Bluebirds' fan Roberts, a former Cardiff player, scored Bristol City's second goal as they won 2-0 to inflict severe damage on the home teams promotion hopes.

"I'm a Cardiff boy, I love Cardiff City, I supported them as a boy," said Roberts. "I spoke to Nathan Blake about handling what was an emotional time leading up to the game. He was brilliant and helped me a lot.

"I also tried to get hold of Simon Haworth because we were at school together and he has been through the same situation.

"Nathan just told me not to fire the Cardiff fans up in any way. I did nothing to try to turn them against me.

"I didn't even celebrate my goal. I decided before the game that if I did score I wouldn't celebrate.

"I came to do a professional job for my club and when the chance was there I had to score. But I didn't feel like celebrating.

"I'm 100 per cent Bristol City now, of course, and my aim is to help them earn promotion, but personally I'd love to see both Bristol and Cardiff go up.

"I had 10 years at Ninian Park and loved every minute of it."

Roberts was released by Cardiff City during the summer of 2000, joining Exeter City and then Bristol City.

"I grew up at Cardiff City and I didn't want to leave," said Roberts. "I never let the club down, although I felt they sometimes let me down.

"Cardiff were relegated in the season before I left and it came down to a decision between Robert Earnshaw and me. Earnie was a young lad, very bubbly and a good lad. He is also an extremely good footballer.

"Billy Ayre, the manager, told me I was no longer needed. It was a decision which had to be made. It was hard on me personally, but I just had to bounce back.

"I was fortunate that Exeter City gave me the chance."

Roberts,23, still lives in Cardiff, but said: "I won't be going out in Cardiff for a while.

"I've also put an offer in on a house in the Bristol area."

Roberts keeps in touch with several Cardiff City players including Jason Bowen, Andy Legg and Earnie.

"I still see the lads now and again," said Roberts, who is often at Ninian Park to watch reserve team matches.

And there was a family issue for him to deal with after the game.

"My brother, David, is a Cardiff City season ticket holder and I had a chat with him after the game," said Roberts. "He is passionate about the club and so am I. But it's Bristol City who pay my mortgage and it was a goal I had to score."

l NEIL Alexander has flown out with the Scotland squad for their B international in Germany tomorrow evening.

Goalkeeper Alexander joined

the Scottish party yesterday and if he plays against Germany he will be the first Cardiff player to earn a Scotland B cap since Danny Malloy in 1956.

Malloy played for Scotland against England in a B international at Dundee.

Bristol City's Scott Murray is also with the Scots.

. CENTRAL defender Andy Jordan is almost ready for a return to action.

He has been out for more than a year after a knee operation was followed by an ankle injury.

Now he is back in full training and aiming to play for the reserves as soon as possible.

Their next match is at Swindon Town on January 15.

. OWNER Sam Hammam is away in New York visiting his children and watched the 2-0 defeat against Bristol City on Sky television.

He was bitterly disappointed with the performance and spoke at length to manager Lennie Lawrence plus chief executive David Temme over the weekend.